Dallas News: Tate Worth the Wait

[RodThePat]

He had a step on the coverage and Brady underthrew him for a pick.

Regards,
Chris

If I am not mistaken, Tate later admited that interception was on him. Still, he played fairly well for a rookie WR setting foot on an NFL field for the first time. I still have high hopes for him.

 

[patchick]

If I am not mistaken, Tate later admited that interception was on him. Still, he played fairly well for a rookie WR setting foot on an NFL field for the first time. I still have high hopes for him.

I believe Brady and Tate each claimed full blame for the INT, in the classic style.

Anyway...Tate isn't just a rookie -- he's a guy who was playing in his first football game in a year, following his first week of practice in a year. Out of practice, out of rhythm, new team, new QB, and a whole new level of competition. It doesn't get much harder than that. He seems to have a good attitude at least, which already puts him ahead of Bethel and Chad, eh?

 

[mosi]

Actually, on that one end-around, I thought he looked just like Deon Branch (just for a quick second!).

 

[WhiZa]

I thought tate looked good in his limited role, but I am not going to blow my opinion just yet. I want to see him earn those kickoff return duties and the starting position in the #2/#3 role. I'll be happy as as clam then.

 

[danam404]

For you fantasy guys:

Im in an ultra-deep league (20 teams)... slim pickins. Sam Aiken and Tate are both available. Do you think tate is worth a pickup as a prospect.... or should I grab Aiken?

Id look like a genius if tate actually starts getting involved

 

[JSn]

If I am not mistaken, Tate later admited that interception was on him. Still, he played fairly well for a rookie WR setting foot on an NFL field for the first time. I still have high hopes for him.

Caserio said in his conference call Monday that Tate ran the wrong route.

 

[mgteich]

It's good to see Gosselin still backing the choice of Tate. Tate was rated to be a low first or a second round talent. I believe that there was also an off the field issue. We took the risk and were willing to wait for at least half a season in the hope that he would recover from his injuries and be a solid prospect. I would disagree that getting an end of the first talent in the middle of the third is a steal, given that Tate missed all the time he did. I agree that he was a solid value and a risk that the patriots could afford to take.

Tate is already doing as well as anyone should have expected for this season. He is performing reasonably as a returner and is a reasonable #4 receiver. That being said, we don't use a #4 receiver much.

The cut of Lewis and Edeleman's injury has given Tate the opportunity and he is doing fine. He should continue to be used sparingly in 2009, but he could have a great future going forward.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Just from his film study he's different than Jackson. At least he has the right mind sight to be able to fight through a bad injury and see the field all in his rookie season. Like others said, any benefits of his are all nice bonuses at this point. It's crazy to expect a guy to miss all of training camp and be effective.

 

[WhiZa]

For you fantasy guys:

Im in an ultra-deep league (20 teams)... slim pickins. Sam Aiken and Tate are both available. Do you think tate is worth a pickup as a prospect.... or should I grab Aiken?

Id look like a genius if tate actually starts getting involved

I think you answered your own question

 

[pats_premi]

That's just plain dumb ... to liken a kid to someone who was here several years? The kid is coming off major injury and it's not like he's been compared to Deion Sanders or Devin Hester or anything. If he's better than what we have had so far this year then we will be a better team. So, all he has to do is be better than Maroney at returns and that should not be too hard. We don't really need him to receive much this year.

In Dallas News, they do mention
"Tate was part Devin Hester, part Reggie Bush, part Percy Harvin", but you have a good point about him coming off injury.

 

[pats_premi]

This is 100% flat out dead wrong. Tate has exceptional burst to compliment his linear speed. He cuts well, has good vision, and should develop into a solid player at the position.

ok. I guess I didn't see his speed, cuts, vision in the first game back after major injury. You may be right. We'll see.

 

[Patspsycho]

I know I am going to get blasted for this, but to me .... Tate reminded me of Chad Jackson. I didn't see any burst on kick-off returns or good separation from the DB's. Running a wrong route and causing a interception that is very similar to Chad Jackson.

That is a very idiotic statement. That was Tate's first long reception attempt; in other words he is 0 for 1, and you're already calling him Chad Jackson? Bizarre logic.

 

[Patspsycho]

ok. I guess I didn't see his speed, cuts, vision in the first game back after major injury. You may be right. We'll see.

That's because you didn't see him in college.

 

[Isaac]

The infamous "they" say that Tate would have been a first round pick if he didn't tear his ACL. I don't know who "they" are, but in this case, I like their thinking.

Actually, in this case "they" includes BB--he was uncharacteristically direct in speaking about Tate after the draft and flat-out said that he thought Tate would have been a first round pick (or had first round value or first round talent or something along those lines).

 

[thodoks]

Actually, in this case "they" includes BB--he was uncharacteristically direct in speaking about Tate after the draft and flat-out said that he thought Tate would have been a first round pick (or had first round value or first round talent or something along those lines).

I don't recall this.

Link?

 

[Isaac]

I don't recall this.

Link?

I don't remember which one it was, but you might check the WEEI interviews and his post-draft press conferences.

 

[pats_premi]

Anyway...Tate isn't just a rookie -- he's a guy who was playing in his first football game in a year, following his first week of practice in a year. Out of practice, out of rhythm, new team, new QB, and a whole new level of competition. It doesn't get much harder than that. He seems to have a good attitude at least, which already puts him ahead of Bethel and Chad, eh?

You are making good points. I was just going by what I saw in Tates first game and who reminded me in this particular game. We'll see how he progresses.

 

[skri65]

Guys, I hate to be a pessimist in this situation, but I expect very very little of Tate at this point. For a lot of reasons..

1.) New level of competition: It takes time for all receivers to adjust to the new league. Even the best of receivers adjust slowly to the NFL...it's rare that they come out and contribute in a very significant way right off the bat. I know that the immediate response is to say, well, Edelman made the transition. Guys, just because it happens doesn't mean it's the rule! More adjust slowly to the NFL than those who adjust immediately. Edelman is a rarity. Tate may actually make an immediate impact, but it simply much more likely that he won't. This, in combination with....

2.) Tate wasn't present for all of training camp. He hadn't practice with Brady up until a couple weeks ago. Being in the classroom studyign the playbook is entirely different than getting real time reps with Brady. It's hard for me to believe Brady is going to trust him very quickly, either.

3.) I find this to be one of the most overlooked things about Tate. The biggest season Tate had as a receiver at UNC was the season in which he picked up 479 receiving yards. It's not like Tate was an overly productive receiver in college. He was a GREAT returnman, but as a receiver, his production in college wasn't eye-popping (nor was it particularly sub-par). I don't understand why people can expect Tate to get anywhere near those receiving yards in his first year in the NFL if he didn't even get them in college? Again, I recognize that this doesn't guarantee that Tate won't contribute in the passing game. (Edelman didn't even play receiver in college). But again, Edelman was, in my opinion, something of a surprise. I don't see how people can expect Tate to perform like Edelman did.

I am in no way saying that Tate won't perform in the 3 WR role. All i'm saying is that the chances, on paper, seem against him. So I hope that people aren't relying on him to make an immediate impact in any significant way. Again, on paper, it seems as though he won't. Hopefully, he pulls an "Edelman" and surprises us all.



I am excited to see what Tate can do. But I just don't understand the reasoning

 

[unoriginal]

I know I am going to get blasted for this, but to me .... Tate reminded me of Chad Jackson. I didn't see any burst on kick-off returns or good separation from the DB's. Running a wrong route and causing a interception that is very similar to Chad Jackson.

There are some definite parallels... both WRs rated low-first to high-second picks, both WRs suffered torn ACLs early on (Tate senior year, Jackson rookie year), both are 6' 1" burners. Jackson was a lot more productive in college though.

We'll see if Tate can eventually learn to run the right routes.

 

[VJCPatriot]

We'll see if Tate can eventually learn to run the right routes.

This is the true key here. NE runs a complex option route system for WRs and some guys just can't seem to wrap their heads around it. Randy Moss had no problem, but he's actually one of the most intelligent receivers in the NFL and probably one of the best of all time. It will take Tate some time to pick up the offense imo. Hopefully he will 'get it' though. Cos we could use a 3rd receiver after Edelman went down.